Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-17
WALKS AND TALKS.
Cincinnati 1csesram.)

|
Jay Gould was done up for big money. l
know man That touched him to the tune
OF 100000, and didn't have to work very
hard for il either" was the startling re-
mark made by one of the men nj the cor
ner, who were discussing and laughing
over the manner in which the boss rail
road millionaire had had tie wool pulled
over his eyes by some of his associates in
lhe.motter Of the purchase OF one of the
branches of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. |
II don't care about giving him dead
away fthut IL, the man who turned the |
trick) because lie was one OF my bosom |
chums twenty years ago, and is now big |
Wall street man with bank account, and |
one of the shining lights of Trinity church,
no that his name will be simply George |
for the purposes of this story.
ain 1866 George was on the editorial |
stnf OF New Orleans daily and was con-
cedcd to be one of the brightest OF the
many bright and intellectual men whom
the fortunes Of war had stranded nit.broke
on the shores Of Bohemia. There were
lots of them, in those days, vino sought
refuge from their then financial troubles
In newspaper offices, They did magnif-
cent work and received what would now
be considered magnificent compensation.
Greenbacks were plentiful, advertising
rates were about 81 a square for display
matter, local mentions 81 line, and a
live reporter in those days who couldn't
Gu; a big swath was simply no good.
"But some men, no matter how much
they may earn, will run over the limit
George was one OF them. He couldn't
keep up his end Of the string; the numer-
Gus dinners at Moreau's, Victor's and
Madame Chaplin's with the attendant sup.
pers at the Pickwick, together with an
expensive bachelor establishment, proved
too much for him, and one fine morning
he found himself busted.
"The same evening he met me on Tcli-
oupitoulas street, told me his story, said he
was going to New York, had chance for
a sit on the Herald and would l loan him
City dollars7 He got it, and that's the
last time l saw George until 1877, when
met him in Central park. But / had
heard of and from him in the interim, and
his adventures during those ten years
would fill a book.
"Gcorge struck oil--ss he expected
right away. The value of his service
were recognized, his promotion rapid, I'M
til he found himself landed in Albany as
he special correspondent Of big blanket
sheet.
"The Tweed ring was in all its glory
Jim Fisk and Gould had Just committed
their celebrated rape of the Erie railroa d
and were setting their triggers with the
Albany legislative lights. not only 10 CON
summate their steal, but TO fasien their
, cam hooks on certain other lines. Georges
reports of the proceedings had we're en-
nently terse, brilliant, witty and, If not
fishy were decidedly Fisky.
"Jim Fisk walked into the Office of the
manager of The paper one day and asked
in his usual bruSque manner, 'Who in the
hi is in charge at AlbanyT He was
,, ceipt OF an, TO him, important dispatch
George packed up his traps, skipped for
New York, resigned his position and the
4 next day blossomed ont as Jim Fisk's pri-
8 va,e secretary. He had found his oppor-
e nnity, took advantage OF 1t, and thence
forward lived in clover. OF course he got
big salary, and couldn't very well help
y but make big money out of the pointers he
= was necessarily bound to get through his
knowledge of Jim and jays inside work.
: "lIe was soon very comfortably warm
but instead of blowing in his money ac-
r cor,ling TO his bosses methods, in opera
house schemes, fast horses and faster wom.
en-, he simply corpered the cards, joined
/ the church and became in all outside res
u pects, very model young man.
:, "The day that Stokes fatally shot Fisk
u u on the stairway of the Grand Central hotel.
although many years ago, / guess you all
remember-not only the day, but the cause
# of tho trouble and it's conrqnent results.
"Thnt was the day that George laid the
plans that scooped in Jay Gould for big
' money.
e "ln Fisk's Office were two big safes load
If ed mp with documents bearing upon the
= various transactions had between him and
: hi4 partner Gonld, many OF them incrim-
v mating that the ventilation of them would
e be moral death 10 either. George had the
safe com binalion; found that Fisk couldn't
possibly live, aud avniled himself Of h;s
II golden opportunity. In thirty minutes
Z those two safes were looted. couple oi
r. trunks were rapidly filled with documents,
! the 'fes closed, and among other news
:, hat the morning papers had To dish ont
II To their re.ders WAS the unaccnnntahe and
. Il: 81.
1t confidential secretary Of the murdered mi
:, lionnire.
:. "IIe didn't disappear any too soon either
y ns inside OF an hour after his departure
e the Offices were in the hands of Gould'-
T. relanerl, the safes sealed and the door,
7, barred
'Ihe day alter FiHk's funeral, in The
continued absence Of the only man who
'e had the open sesame of he Safes an or
= der was issued by Judge Barnard permit
ting the forcing Of them in the presence Of
= the surviving partner and the Representa-
'e tive Of the Fisk estate. As had already
=, been anticipated by Gould they found u
'e wafer haul.
= "Thcre was plenty OF money, valuable
Al jewelry, etc, found, likewise remarkable
y amount Of salncons and amatory letter.
!" from Josie Mansfield and other of Fisk,
% i'her, "iShiy en'ei'"ilihS w une HeWs-
= paper fraternity, bnt of no financial value
u to Gould & Company. The mass Of iht
d valuable documents simply turned NJ
= missing."
" "Bnt where was George? In Havanna
d at the Tacon holel-at least that ia where
's Gould'h detectives found him-enjoyine
=, hardly earned vacation, honestly due
y him tor SIX years faithful attention to hi,
duties No, he didn't have any docu-
ments; knew nothing about them just
" then; his memory WAS sadly impaired
:, and II they didn't belve him, why, just
y search him. They did, several times, had